Workforce & Education

The Workforce and Education theme within WSSPR is developing a programme of research to explore the social prescribing role.

WSSPR projects within this theme are listed below:

Identifying quality indicators for social prescribing

Using consensus methods, WSSPR researchers are working to identify quality indicators that can be used for social prescribing. Outcomes will inform the development of a social prescribing quality framework in Wales.

Report: Megan Elliott & Prof Carolyn Wallace. Identifying quality indicators for social prescribing. May 2021.

Contact: Prof Carolyn Wallace

Developing training materials for evaluation in social prescribing

WSSPR aims to develop training materials for social prescribers and researchers to support evaluation and monitoring of social prescribing interventions. This will be done following development of the social prescribing evaluation methodology framework. 

Funder: Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government

Publication: Elliott M, Davies M, Davies JWallace C. Exploring how and why social prescribing evaluations work: a realist reviewBMJ Open 2022; 12:e057009.

Contact: Prof Carolyn Wallace

Investigating art on prescription in Wales: how to achieve critical success factors for sustainability 
MRes - Suzy Rogers

The aim of this research is to establish the critical success factors that enable the sustainability of Art-On-Prescription in Wales. Secondarily, the research is aimed to investigate how the critical success factors have the potential for long-term sustainability in social prescribing in Wales.

Publication: Way S, Davies M, Wallace C, Acaron T, Diamond K, (2022). How do community-based arts in health interventions involving reminiscence, life story work, autobiographical sharing or life review activities, work for older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness? A rapid realist review. PROSPERO.

Contact: Prof Carolyn Wallace

Social prescribing learning needs

Using consensus methods, researchers identified training needs that social prescribers felt were important, and available or not available, and where these fit on a career timeline of a person delivering social prescribing. 

Funder: Health Education and Improvement Wales

Partners: University of South Wales, PRIME Centre Wales, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Wrexham Glyndŵr University

Publication: Wallace C, Elliott M, Thomas S, Davies-McIntosh E, Beese S, Roberts G, Ruddle N, Groves K, Rees S, Pontin D. Using consensus methods to develop a Social Prescribing Learning Needs Framework for practitioners in Wales. Royal Society for Public Health. Volume 141, Issue 3. 2020.

Contact: Prof Carolyn Wallace

Developing an international glossary of terms for social prescribing

Across the UK and internationally a wide range of terms and vocabulary is used to talk about social prescribing and the roles and activities within social prescribing. This study involves a scoping review, followed by a Delphi study to develop a glossary of terms for social prescribing to address this issue. 

Funder: Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government

Report: Simon Newstead. Developing an Evidence Based Glossary of Terms for Social Prescribing. Public Health Wales. Oct 2022.

Contact: Prof Carolyn Wallace